English
“First,sir,”saidCaderousse,“youmustmakemeapromise.”
“Whatisthat?”inquiredtheabbe.
“Why,ifyouevermakeuseofthedetailsIamabouttogiveyou,thatyouwillneverletanyoneknowthatitwasIwhosuppliedthem;forthepersonsofwhomIamabouttotalkarerichandpowerful,andiftheyonlylaidthetipsoftheirfingersonme,Ishouldbreaktopieceslikeglass.”
“Makeyourselfeasy,myfriend,”repliedtheabbe.
“Iamapriest,andconfessionsdieinmybreast.
Recollect,ouronlydesireistocarryout,inafittingmanner,thelastwishesofourfriend.
Speak,then,withoutreserve,aswithouthatred;tellthetruth,thewholetruth;Idonotknow,nevermayknow,thepersonsofwhomyouareabouttospeak;besides,IamanItalian,andnotaFrenchman,andbelongtoGod,andnottoman,andIshallshortlyretiretomyconvent,whichIhaveonlyquittedtofulfilthelastwishesofadyingman.”
ThispositiveassuranceseemedtogiveCaderoussealittlecourage.
“Well,then,underthesecircumstances,”saidCaderousse,“Iwill,IevenbelieveIoughttoundeceiveyouastothefriendshipwhichpoorEdmondthoughtsosincereandunquestionable.”
“Beginwithhisfather,ifyouplease.”saidtheabbe;“Edmondtalkedtomeagreatdealabouttheoldmanforwhomhehadthedeepestlove.”
“Thehistoryisasadone,sir,”saidCaderousse,shakinghishead;“perhapsyouknowalltheearlierpartofit?”
“Yes.”answeredtheabbe;“EdmondrelatedtomeeverythinguntilthemomentwhenhewasarrestedinasmallcabaretclosetoMarseilles.”
“AtLaReserve!Oh,yes;Icanseeitallbeforemethismoment.”
“Wasitnothisbetrothalfeast?”
“Itwasandthefeastthatbegansogaylyhadaverysorrowfulending;apolicecommissary,followedbyfoursoldiers,entered,andDanteswasarrested.”
“Yes,anduptothispointIknowall,”saidthepriest.
“Danteshimselfonlyknewthatwhichpersonallyconcernedhim,forheneverbeheldagainthefivepersonsIhavenamedtoyou,orheardmentionofanyoneofthem.”
“Well,whenDanteswasarrested,MonsieurMorrelhastenedtoobtaintheparticulars,andtheywereverysad.
Theoldmanreturnedalonetohishome,foldeduphisweddingsuitwithtearsinhiseyes,andpacedupanddownhischamberthewholeday,andwouldnotgotobedatall,forIwasunderneathhimandheardhimwalkingthewholenight;andformyself,IassureyouIcouldnotsleepeither,forthegriefofthepoorfathergavemegreatuneasiness,andeverystephetookwenttomyheartasreallyasifhisfoothadpressedagainstmybreast.
ThenextdayMercedescametoimploretheprotectionofM.deVillefort;shedidnotobtainit,however,andwenttovisittheoldman;whenshesawhimsomiserableandheart–broken,havingpassedasleeplessnight,andnottouchedfoodsincethepreviousday,shewishedhimtogowithherthatshemighttakecareofhim;buttheoldmanwouldnotconsent.
‘No,’wastheoldman’sreply,‘Iwillnotleavethishouse,formypoordearboylovesmebetterthananythingintheworld;andifhegetsoutofprisonhewillcomeandseemethefirstthing,andwhatwouldhethinkifIdidnotwaithereforhim?’
Iheardallthisfromthewindow,forIwasanxiousthatMercedesshouldpersuadetheoldmantoaccompanyher,forhisfootstepsovermyheadnightanddaydidnotleavemeamoment’srepose.”
“Butdidyounotgoup–stairsandtrytoconsolethepooroldman?”askedtheabbe.
“Ah,sir,”repliedCaderousse,“wecannotconsolethosewhowillnotbeconsoled,andhewasoneofthese;besides,Iknownotwhy,butheseemedtodislikeseeingme.
Onenight,however,Iheardhissobs,andIcouldnotresistmydesiretogouptohim,butwhenIreachedhisdoorhewasnolongerweepingbutpraying.
Icannotnowrepeattoyou,sir,alltheeloquentwordsandimploringlanguagehemadeuseof;itwasmorethanpiety,itwasmorethangrief,andI,whoamnocanter,andhatetheJesuits,saidthentomyself,‘Itisreallywell,andIamverygladthatIhavenotanychildren;forifIwereafatherandfeltsuchexcessivegriefastheoldmandoes,anddidnotfindinmymemoryorheartallheisnowsaying,Ishouldthrowmyselfintotheseaatonce,forIcouldnotbearit.
’”
“Poorfather!”murmuredthepriest.
“Fromdaytodayhelivedonalone,andmoreandmoresolitary.
M.MorrelandMercedescametoseehim,buthisdoorwasclosed;and,althoughIwascertainhewasathome,hewouldnotmakeanyanswer.
Oneday,when,contrarytohiscustom,hehadadmittedMercedes,andthepoorgirl,inspiteofherowngriefanddespair,endeavoredtoconsolehim,hesaidtoher,—’Beassured,mydeardaughter,heisdead;andinsteadofexpectinghim,itishewhoisawaitingus;Iamquitehappy,forIamtheoldest,andofcourseshallseehimfirst.’
Howeverwelldisposedapersonmaybe,whyyouseeweleaveoffafteratimeseeingpersonswhoareinsorrow,theymakeonemelancholy;andsoatlastoldDanteswasleftalltohimself,andIonlysawfromtimetotimestrangersgouptohimandcomedownagainwithsomebundletheytriedtohide;butIguessedwhatthesebundleswere,andthathesoldbydegreeswhathehadtopayforhissubsistence.
Atlengththepooroldfellowreachedtheendofallhehad;heowedthreequarters’rent,andtheythreatenedtoturnhimout;hebeggedforanotherweek,whichwasgrantedtohim.
Iknowthis,becausethelandlordcameintomyapartmentwhenhelefthis.
ForthefirstthreedaysIheardhimwalkingaboutasusual,but,onthefourthIheardnothing.
Ithenresolvedtogouptohimatallrisks.
Thedoorwasclosed,butIlookedthroughthekeyhole,andsawhimsopaleandhaggard,thatbelievinghimveryill,IwentandtoldM.MorrelandthenranontoMercedes.
Theybothcameimmediately,M.Morrelbringingadoctor,andthedoctorsaiditwasinflammationofthebowels,andorderedhimalimiteddiet.
Iwasthere,too,andInevershallforgettheoldman’ssmileatthisprescription.
Fromthattimehereceivedallwhocame;hehadanexcusefornoteatinganymore;thedoctorhadputhimonadiet.”Theabbeutteredakindofgroan.
“Thestoryinterestsyou,doesitnot,sir?”inquiredCaderousse.
“Yes,”repliedtheabbe,“itisveryaffecting.”
“Mercedescameagain,andshefoundhimsoalteredthatshewasevenmoreanxiousthanbeforetohavehimtakentoherownhome.
ThiswasM.Morrel’swishalso,whowouldfainhaveconveyedtheoldmanagainsthisconsent;buttheoldmanresisted,andcriedsothattheywereactuallyfrightened.
Mercedesremained,therefore,byhisbedside,andM.Morrelwentaway,makingasigntotheCatalanthathehadlefthispurseonthechimney–piece.
Butavailinghimselfofthedoctor’sorder,theoldmanwouldnottakeanysustenance;atlength(afterninedaysofdespairandfasting),theoldmandied,cursingthosewhohadcausedhismisery,andsayingtoMercedes,‘IfyoueverseemyEdmondagain,tellhimIdieblessinghim.
’”Theabberosefromhischair,madetwoturnsroundthechamber,andpressedhistremblinghandagainsthisparchedthroat.“Andyoubelievehedied”—
“Ofhunger,sir,ofhunger,”saidCaderousse.“IamascertainofitasthatwetwoareChristians.”
Theabbe,withashakinghand,seizedaglassofwaterthatwasstandingbyhimhalf–full,swalloweditatonegulp,andthenresumedhisseat,withredeyesandpalecheeks.“Thiswas,indeed,ahorridevent.”saidheinahoarsevoice.
“Themoreso,sir,asitwasmen’sandnotGod’sdoing.”
“Tellmeofthosemen,”saidtheabbe,“andremembertoo,”headdedinanalmostmenacingtone,“youhavepromisedtotellmeeverything.
Tellme,therefore,whoarethesemenwhokilledthesonwithdespair,andthefatherwithfamine?”
“Twomenjealousofhim,sir;onefromlove,andtheotherfromambition,—FernandandDanglars.”
“Howwasthisjealousymanifested?Speakon.”
“TheydenouncedEdmondasaBonapartistagent.”
“Whichofthetwodenouncedhim?Whichwastherealdelinquent?”
“Both,sir;onewithaletter,andtheotherputitinthepost.”
“Andwherewasthisletterwritten?”
“AtLaReserve,thedaybeforethebetrothalfeast.”
”’Twasso,then—’twasso,then,”murmuredtheabbe.“Oh,Faria,Faria,howwelldidyoujudgemenandthings!”
“Whatdidyoupleasetosay,sir?”askedCaderousse.
“Nothing,nothing,”repliedthepriest;“goon.”
“ItwasDanglarswhowrotethedenunciationwithhislefthand,thathiswritingmightnotberecognized,andFernandwhoputitinthepost.”
“But,”exclaimedtheabbesuddenly,“youwerethereyourself.”
“I!”saidCaderousse,astonished;“whotoldyouIwasthere?”
Theabbesawhehadovershotthemark,andheaddedquickly,—”Noone;butinordertohaveknowneverythingsowell,youmusthavebeenaneye–witness.”
“True,true!”saidCaderousseinachokingvoice,“Iwasthere.”
“Anddidyounotremonstrateagainstsuchinfamy?”askedtheabbe;“ifnot,youwereanaccomplice.”
“Sir,”repliedCaderousse,“theyhadmademedrinktosuchanexcessthatInearlylostallperception.
Ihadonlyanindistinctunderstandingofwhatwaspassingaroundme.
Isaidallthatamaninsuchastatecouldsay;buttheybothassuredmethatitwasajesttheywerecarryingon,andperfectlyharmless.”
“Nextday—nextday,sir,youmusthaveseenplainenoughwhattheyhadbeendoing,yetyousaidnothing,thoughyouwerepresentwhenDanteswasarrested.”
“Yes,sir,Iwasthere,andveryanxioustospeak;butDanglarsrestrainedme.
‘Ifheshouldreallybeguilty,’saidhe,‘anddidreallyputintotheIslandofElba;ifheisreallychargedwithaletterfortheBonapartistcommitteeatParis,andiftheyfindthisletteruponhim,thosewhohavesupportedhimwillpassforhisaccomplices.’
IconfessIhadmyfears,inthestateinwhichpoliticsthenwere,andIheldmytongue.
Itwascowardly,Iconfess,butitwasnotcriminal.”
“Iunderstand—youallowedmatterstotaketheircourse,thatwasall.”
“Yes,sir,”answeredCaderousse;“andremorsepreysonmenightandday.
IoftenaskpardonofGod,Isweartoyou,becausethisaction,theonlyonewithwhichIhaveseriouslytoreproachmyselfinallmylife,isnodoubtthecauseofmyabjectcondition.
Iamexpiatingamomentofselfishness,andsoIalwayssaytoLaCarconte,whenshecomplains,‘Holdyourtongue,woman;itisthewillofGod.
’”AndCaderoussebowedhisheadwitheverysignofrealrepentance.
“Well,sir,”saidtheabbe,“youhavespokenunreservedly;andthustoaccuseyourselfistodeservepardon.”
“Unfortunately,Edmondisdead,andhasnotpardonedme.”
“Hedidnotknow,”saidtheabbe.
“Butheknowsitallnow,”interruptedCaderousse;“theysaythedeadknoweverything.”
Therewasabriefsilence;theabberoseandpacedupanddownpensively,andthenresumedhisseat.
“YouhavetwoorthreetimesmentionedaM.Morrel,”hesaid;“whowashe?”
“TheownerofthePharaonandpatronofDantes.”
“Andwhatpartdidheplayinthissaddrama?”inquiredtheabbe.
“Thepartofanhonestman,fullofcourageandrealregard.TwentytimesheintercededforEdmond.
Whentheemperorreturned,hewrote,implored,threatened,andsoenergetically,thatonthesecondrestorationhewaspersecutedasaBonapartist.
Tentimes,asItoldyou,hecametoseeDantes’father,andofferedtoreceivehiminhisownhouse;andthenightortwobeforehisdeath,asIhavealreadysaid,helefthispurseonthemantelpiece,withwhichtheypaidtheoldman’sdebts,andburiedhimdecently;andsoEdmond’sfatherdied,ashehadlived,withoutdoingharmtoanyone.
Ihavethepursestillbyme—alargeone,madeofredsilk.”
“And,”askedtheabbe,“isM.Morrelstillalive?”
“Yes,”repliedCaderousse.
“Inthatcase,”repliedtheabbe,“heshouldberich,happy.”
Caderoussesmiledbitterly.“Yes,happyasmyself,”saidhe.
“What!M.Morrelunhappy?”exclaimedtheabbe.
“Heisreducedalmosttothelastextremity—nay,heisalmostatthepointofdishonor.”
“How?”
“Yes,”continuedCaderousse,“soitis;afterfiveandtwentyyearsoflabor,afterhavingacquiredamosthonorablenameinthetradeofMarseilles,M.Morrelisutterlyruined;hehaslostfiveshipsintwoyears,hassufferedbythebankruptcyofthreelargehouses,andhisonlyhopenowisinthatveryPharaonwhichpoorDantescommanded,andwhichisexpectedfromtheIndieswithacargoofcochinealandindigo.
Ifthisshipfounders,liketheothers,heisaruinedman.”
“Andhastheunfortunatemanwifeorchildren?”inquiredtheabbe.
“Yes,hehasawife,whothrougheverythinghasbehavedlikeanangel;hehasadaughter,whowasabouttomarrythemansheloved,butwhosefamilynowwillnotallowhimtowedthedaughterofaruinedman;hehas,besides,ason,alieutenantinthearmy;and,asyoumaysuppose,allthis,insteadoflessening,onlyaugmentshissorrows.
Ifhewerealoneintheworldhewouldblowouthisbrains,andtherewouldbeanend.”
“Horrible!”ejaculatedthepriest.
“Anditisthusheavenrecompensesvirtue,sir,”addedCaderousse.
“Yousee,I,whoneverdidabadactionbutthatIhavetoldyouof—amindestitution,withmypoorwifedyingoffeverbeforemyveryeyes,andIunabletodoanythingintheworldforher;Ishalldieofhunger,asoldDantesdid,whileFernandandDanglarsarerollinginwealth.”
“Howisthat?”
“Becausetheirdeedshavebroughtthemgoodfortune,whilehonestmenhavebeenreducedtomisery.”
“WhathasbecomeofDanglars,theinstigator,andthereforethemostguilty?”
“Whathasbecomeofhim?Why,heleftMarseilles,andwastaken,ontherecommendationofM.Morrel,whodidnotknowhiscrime,ascashierintoaSpanishbank.
DuringthewarwithSpainhewasemployedinthecommissariatoftheFrencharmy,andmadeafortune;thenwiththatmoneyhespeculatedinthefunds,andtrebledorquadrupledhiscapital;and,havingfirstmarriedhisbanker’sdaughter,wholefthimawidower,hehasmarriedasecondtime,awidow,aMadamedeNargonne,daughterofM.deServieux,theking’schamberlain,whoisinhighfavoratcourt.
Heisamillionaire,andtheyhavemadehimabaron,andnowheistheBaronDanglars,withafineresidenceintheRuedeMont–Blanc,withtenhorsesinhisstables,sixfootmeninhisante–chamber,andIknownothowmanymillionsinhisstrongbox.”
“Ah!”saidtheabbe,inapeculiartone,“heishappy.”
“Happy?Whocananswerforthat?
Happinessorunhappinessisthesecretknownbuttoone’sselfandthewalls—wallshaveearsbutnotongue;butifalargefortuneproduceshappiness,Danglarsishappy.”
“AndFernand?”
“Fernand?Why,muchthesamestory.”
“ButhowcouldapoorCatalanfisher–boy,withouteducationorresources,makeafortune?Iconfessthisstaggersme.”
“Andithasstaggeredeverybody.Theremusthavebeeninhislifesomestrangesecretthatnooneknows.”
“But,then,bywhatvisiblestepshasheattainedthishighfortuneorhighposition?”
“Both,sir—hehasbothfortuneandposition—both.”
“Thismustbeimpossible!”
“Itwouldseemso;butlisten,andyouwillunderstand.
Somedaysbeforethereturnoftheemperor,Fernandwasdrafted.
TheBourbonslefthimquietlyenoughattheCatalans,butNapoleonreturned,aspeciallevywasmade,andFernandwascompelledtojoin.
Iwenttoo;butasIwasolderthanFernand,andhadjustmarriedmypoorwife,Iwasonlysenttothecoast.
Fernandwasenrolledintheactivetroop,wenttothefrontierwithhisregiment,andwasatthebattleofLigny.
Thenightafterthatbattlehewassentryatthedoorofageneralwhocarriedonasecretcorrespondencewiththeenemy.
ThatsamenightthegeneralwastogoovertotheEnglish.
HeproposedtoFernandtoaccompanyhim;Fernandagreedtodoso,desertedhispost,andfollowedthegeneral.
Fernandwouldhavebeencourt–martialedifNapoleonhadremainedonthethrone,buthisactionwasrewardedbytheBourbons.
HereturnedtoFrancewiththeepauletofsub–lieutenant,andastheprotectionofthegeneral,whoisinthehighestfavor,wasaccordedtohim,hewasacaptainin1823,duringtheSpanishwar—thatistosay,atthetimewhenDanglarsmadehisearlyspeculations.
FernandwasaSpaniard,andbeingsenttoSpaintoascertainthefeelingofhisfellow–countrymen,foundDanglarsthere,gotonveryintimatetermswithhim,wonoverthesupportoftheroyalistsatthecapitalandintheprovinces,receivedpromisesandmadepledgesonhisownpart,guidedhisregimentbypathsknowntohimselfalonethroughthemountaingorgeswhichwereheldbytheroyalists,and,infact,renderedsuchservicesinthisbriefcampaignthat,afterthetakingofTrocadero,hewasmadecolonel,andreceivedthetitleofcountandthecrossofanofficeroftheLegionofHonor.”
“Destiny!destiny!”murmuredtheabbe.
“Yes,butlisten:thiswasnotall.ThewarwithSpainbeingended,Fernand’scareerwascheckedbythelongpeacewhichseemedlikelytoendurethroughoutEurope.
GreeceonlyhadrisenagainstTurkey,andhadbegunherwarofindependence;alleyeswereturnedtowardsAthens—itwasthefashiontopityandsupporttheGreeks.
TheFrenchgovernment,withoutprotectingthemopenly,asyouknow,gavecountenancetovolunteerassistance.
FernandsoughtandobtainedleavetogoandserveinGreece,stillhavinghisnamekeptonthearmyroll.
Sometimeafter,itwasstatedthattheComtedeMorcerf(thiswasthenamehebore)hadenteredtheserviceofAliPashawiththerankofinstructor–general.
AliPashawaskilled,asyouknow,butbeforehediedherecompensedtheservicesofFernandbyleavinghimaconsiderablesum,withwhichhereturnedtoFrance,whenhewasgazettedlieutenant–general.”
“Sothatnow?”—inquiredtheabbe.
“Sothatnow,”continuedCaderousse,“heownsamagnificenthouse—No.27,RueduHelder,Paris.”
Theabbeopenedhismouth,hesitatedforamoment,then,makinganeffortatself–control,hesaid,“AndMercedes—theytellmethatshehasdisappeared?”
“Disappeared,”saidCaderousse,“yes,asthesundisappears,torisethenextdaywithstillmoresplendor.”
“Hasshemadeafortunealso?”inquiredtheabbe,withanironicalsmile.
“MercedesisatthismomentoneofthegreatestladiesinParis,”repliedCaderousse.
“Goon,”saidtheabbe;“itseemsasifIwerelisteningtothestoryofadream.ButIhaveseenthingssoextraordinary,thatwhatyoutellmeseemslessastonishingthanitotherwisemight.”
“MercedeswasatfirstinthedeepestdespairattheblowwhichdeprivedherofEdmond.
IhavetoldyouofherattemptstopropitiateM.deVillefort,herdevotiontotheelderDantes.
Inthemidstofherdespair,anewafflictionovertookher.
ThiswasthedepartureofFernand—ofFernand,whosecrimeshedidnotknow,andwhomsheregardedasherbrother.
Fernandwent,andMercedesremainedalone.
Threemonthspassedandstillshewept—nonewsofEdmond,nonewsofFernand,nocompanionshipsavethatofanoldmanwhowasdyingwithdespair.
Oneevening,afteradayofaccustomedvigilattheangleoftworoadsleadingtoMarseillesfromtheCatalans,shereturnedtoherhomemoredepressedthanever.
Suddenlysheheardastepsheknew,turnedanxiouslyaround,thedooropened,andFernand,dressedintheuniformofasub–lieutenant,stoodbeforeher.
Itwasnottheoneshewishedformost,butitseemedasifapartofherpastlifehadreturnedtoher.
MercedesseizedFernand’shandswithatransportwhichhetookforlove,butwhichwasonlyjoyatbeingnolongeraloneintheworld,andseeingatlastafriend,afterlonghoursofsolitarysorrow.
Andthen,itmustbeconfessed,Fernandhadneverbeenhated—hewasonlynotpreciselyloved.
AnotherpossessedallMercedes’heart;thatotherwasabsent,haddisappeared,perhapswasdead.
AtthislastthoughtMercedesburstintoafloodoftears,andwrungherhandsinagony;butthethought,whichshehadalwaysrepelledbeforewhenitwassuggestedtoherbyanother,camenowinfullforceuponhermind;andthen,too,oldDantesincessantlysaidtoher,‘OurEdmondisdead;ifhewerenot,hewouldreturntous.’
Theoldmandied,asIhavetoldyou;hadhelived,Mercedes,perchance,hadnotbecomethewifeofanother,forhewouldhavebeentheretoreproachherinfidelity.
Fernandsawthis,andwhenhelearnedoftheoldman’sdeathhereturned.Hewasnowalieutenant.
AthisfirstcominghehadnotsaidawordoflovetoMercedes;atthesecondheremindedherthathelovedher.
MercedesbeggedforsixmonthsmoreinwhichtoawaitandmournforEdmond.”
“Sothat,”saidtheabbe,withabittersmile,“thatmakeseighteenmonthsinall.
Whatmorecouldthemostdevotedloverdesire?”
ThenhemurmuredthewordsoftheEnglishpoet,”’Frailty,thynameiswoman.’”
“Sixmonthsafterwards,”continuedCaderousse,“themarriagetookplaceinthechurchofAccoules.”
“TheverychurchinwhichshewastohavemarriedEdmond,”murmuredthepriest;“therewasonlyachangeofbride–grooms.”
“Well,Mercedeswasmarried,”proceededCaderousse;“butalthoughintheeyesoftheworldsheappearedcalm,shenearlyfaintedasshepassedLaReserve,where,eighteenmonthsbefore,thebetrothalhadbeencelebratedwithhimwhomshemighthaveknownshestilllovedhadshelookedtothebottomofherheart.
Fernand,morehappy,butnotmoreathisease—forIsawatthistimehewasinconstantdreadofEdmond’sreturn—Fernandwasveryanxioustogethiswifeaway,andtodeparthimself.
ThereweretoomanyunpleasantpossibilitiesassociatedwiththeCatalans,andeightdaysaftertheweddingtheyleftMarseilles.”
“DidyoueverseeMercedesagain?”inquiredthepriest.
“Yes,duringtheSpanishwar,atPerpignan,whereFernandhadlefther;shewasattendingtotheeducationofherson.”Theabbestarted.“Herson?”saidhe.
“Yes,”repliedCaderousse,“littleAlbert.”
“But,then,tobeabletoinstructherchild,”continuedtheabbe,“shemusthavereceivedaneducationherself.
IunderstoodfromEdmondthatshewasthedaughterofasimplefisherman,beautifulbutuneducated.”
“Oh,”repliedCaderousse,“didheknowsolittleofhislovelybetrothed?
Mercedesmighthavebeenaqueen,sir,ifthecrownweretobeplacedontheheadsoftheloveliestandmostintelligent.
Fernand’sfortunewasalreadywaxinggreat,andshedevelopedwithhisgrowingfortune.Shelearneddrawing,music—everything.
Besides,Ibelieve,betweenourselves,shedidthisinordertodistracthermind,thatshemightforget;andsheonlyfilledherheadinordertoalleviatetheweightonherheart.
Butnowherpositioninlifeisassured,”continuedCaderousse;“nodoubtfortuneandhonorshavecomfortedher;sheisrich,acountess,andyet”—Caderoussepaused.
“Andyetwhat?”askedtheabbe.
“Yet,Iamsure,sheisnothappy,”saidCaderousse.
“Whatmakesyoubelievethis?”
“Why,whenIfoundmyselfutterlydestitute,Ithoughtmyoldfriendswould,perhaps,assistme.
SoIwenttoDanglars,whowouldnotevenreceiveme.
IcalledonFernand,whosentmeahundredfrancsbyhisvalet–de–chambre.”
“Thenyoudidnotseeeitherofthem?”
“No,butMadamedeMorcerfsawme.”
“Howwasthat?”
“AsIwentawayapursefellatmyfeet—itcontainedfiveandtwentylouis;Iraisedmyheadquickly,andsawMercedes,whoatonceshuttheblind.”
“AndM.deVillefort?”askedtheabbe.
“Oh,heneverwasafriendofmine,Ididnotknowhim,andIhadnothingtoaskofhim.”
“Doyounotknowwhatbecameofhim,andthesharehehadinEdmond’smisfortunes?”
“No;IonlyknowthatsometimeafterEdmond’sarrest,hemarriedMademoiselledeSaint–Meran,andsoonafterleftMarseilles;nodoubthehasbeenasluckyastherest;nodoubtheisasrichasDanglars,ashighinstationasFernand.
Ionly,asyousee,haveremainedpoor,wretched,andforgotten.”
“Youaremistaken,myfriend,”repliedtheabbe;“Godmayseemsometimestoforgetforatime,whilehisjusticereposes,buttherealwayscomesamomentwhenheremembers—andbehold—aproof!”
Ashespoke,theabbetookthediamondfromhispocket,andgivingittoCaderousse,said,—”Here,myfriend,takethisdiamond,itisyours.”
“What,formeonly?”criedCaderousse,“ah,sir,donotjestwithme!”
“Thisdiamondwastohavebeensharedamonghisfriends.
Edmondhadonefriendonly,andthusitcannotbedivided.
Takethediamond,then,andsellit;itisworthfiftythousandfrancs,andIrepeatmywishthatthissummaysufficetoreleaseyoufromyourwretchedness.”
“Oh,sir,”saidCaderousse,puttingoutonehandtimidly,andwiththeotherwipingawaytheperspirationwhichbedewedhisbrow,—”Oh,sir,donotmakeajestofthehappinessordespairofaman.”
“Iknowwhathappinessandwhatdespairare,andInevermakeajestofsuchfeelings.Takeit,then,butinexchange—”
Caderousse,whotouchedthediamond,withdrewhishand.Theabbesmiled.
“Inexchange,”hecontinued,“givemetheredsilkpursethatM.MorrelleftonoldDantes’chimney–piece,andwhichyoutellmeisstillinyourhands.”
Caderousse,moreandmoreastonished,wenttowardalargeoakencupboard,openedit,andgavetheabbealongpurseoffadedredsilk,roundwhichweretwocopperrunnersthathadoncebeengilt.
Theabbetookit,andinreturngaveCaderoussethediamond.
“Oh,youareamanofGod,sir,”criedCaderousse;“fornooneknewthatEdmondhadgivenyouthisdiamond,andyoumighthavekeptit.”
“Which,”saidtheabbetohimself,“youwouldhavedone.”Theabberose,tookhishatandgloves.
“Well,”hesaid,“allyouhavetoldmeisperfectlytrue,then,andImaybelieveitineveryparticular.”
“See,sir,”repliedCaderousse,“inthiscornerisacrucifixinholywood—hereonthisshelfismywife’stestament;openthisbook,andIwillswearuponitwithmyhandonthecrucifix.
Iwillsweartoyoubymysoul’ssalvation,myfaithasaChristian,Ihavetoldeverythingtoyouasitoccurred,andastherecordingangelwilltellittotheearofGodatthedayofthelastjudgment!”
”’Tiswell,”saidtheabbe,convincedbyhismannerandtonethatCaderoussespokethetruth.
”’Tiswell,andmaythismoneyprofityou!
Adieu;Igofarfrommenwhothussobitterlyinjureeachother.”
TheabbewithdifficultygotawayfromtheenthusiasticthanksofCaderousse,openedthedoorhimself,gotoutandmountedhishorse,oncemoresalutedtheinnkeeper,whokeptutteringhisloudfarewells,andthenreturnedbytheroadhehadtravelledincoming.
WhenCaderousseturnedaround,hesawbehindhimLaCarconte,palerandtremblingmorethanever.
“Is,then,allthatIhaveheardreallytrue?”sheinquired.
“What?Thathehasgiventhediamondtousonly?”
inquiredCaderousse,halfbewilderedwithjoy;“yes,nothingmoretrue!See,hereitis.”
Thewomangazedatitamoment,andthensaid,inagloomyvoice,“Supposeit’sfalse?”Caderoussestartedandturnedpale.“False!”hemuttered.“False!
Whyshouldthatmangivemeafalsediamond?”
“Togetyoursecretwithoutpayingforit,youblockhead!”
Caderousseremainedforamomentaghastundertheweightofsuchanidea.“Oh!”hesaid,takinguphishat,whichheplacedontheredhandkerchieftiedroundhishead,“wewillsoonfindout.”
“Inwhatway?”
“Why,thefairisonatBeaucaire,therearealwaysjewellersfromParisthere,andIwillshowittothem.
Lookafterthehouse,wife,andIshallbebackintwohours,”andCaderousseleftthehouseinhaste,andranrapidlyinthedirectionoppositetothatwhichthepriesthadtaken.“Fiftythousandfrancs!”
mutteredLaCarcontewhenleftalone;“itisalargesumofmoney,butitisnotafortune.”
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